MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – ‘Aisyiyah reaffirmed its opposition to female genital mutilation (FGM), emphasizing its harmful effects and lack of religious obligation. Despite increasing awareness, the practice remains prevalent in Indonesia due to deep-rooted cultural traditions and misunderstandings of religious teachings.
General Secretary of ‘Aisyiyah Tri Hastuti Nur Rochimah stressed the need for education and advocacy to eliminate this practice. She highlighted the important role of religious and community leaders in spreading awareness and correcting misconceptions.
“Religious and community leaders play a crucial role in ending this practice because their voices carry significant influence in society,” said Tri on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation on Thursday, February 6.
To support this effort, ‘Aisyiyah has partnered with the Ministry of Health to train its representatives in various provinces, enabling them to educate communities about the risks of FGM.
In addition, to counter the social pressure surrounding FGM ceremonies, Siti Aisyah suggested introducing alternative traditions, such as holding a thanksgiving event to celebrate a girl’s first menstruation.
“A girl’s first period marks her transition into adulthood, a significant milestone where she takes on religious and social responsibilities. This can be a more meaningful tradition to uphold,” said Siti Aisyah.
Meanwhile, ‘Aisyiyah Chairperson for Religious Preaching and Opinion Siti Aisyah cited Muhammadiyah Fatwa, which states that there is no strong religious basis for FGM. This ruling, included in the book Tanya Jawab Agama Jilid 2 (Questions and Answers on Religion, Volume 2), explains that the hadiths supporting the practice are weak and unreliable.
“The hadiths about female circumcision lack strong evidence. Considering its harmful effects, it cannot be recommended, let alone considered obligatory,” she explained.
She also clarified that some scholars have misinterpreted Qur’an Surah An-Nisa’ verse 125, which refers to Prophet Ibrahim’s circumcision. Scholars agree that following Ibrahim’s path (millah Ibrahim) refers to his faith in monotheism, not circumcision.
Additionally, a weak hadith from Ummu Athiyah is often used to justify the practice. In this narration, a woman would perform khifādh in Medina, and the Prophet told her to cut it lightly and not overdo it, for indeed it brightens the face and pleases the husband. However, the hadith is unreliable due to an unknown narrator (majhul), Muhammad ibn Hasan.
Despite this, Chairperson of the ‘Aisyiyah Council for Religious Preaching and Opinion Evi Sovia Inayati noted that FGM remains a strong tradition in some regions, often celebrated with rituals and gatherings. She emphasized the need for a collective effort to replace this tradition with more meaningful and educational alternatives.
“We must actively promote a progressive understanding of Islam that does not encourage FGM. This can be done through religious preaching, discussions, and continuous community outreach,” she said.
